Nintendo ready to take 3-D gaming to mass market NEW YORK — With the Nintendo 3DS, the Japanese video game company is betting that it can once again nudge mass entertainment in a new direction, just as it did nearly five years ago when it introduced the Wii with its innovative motion-based controller.
The handheld 3DS, which goes on sale in the U.S. on Sunday for $250, lets users play 3-D games without wearing special glasses. It also takes 3-D photos. This summer, the 3DS will play 3-D movies streamed from Netflix on its 3.5-inch screen.
Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo’s U.S. arm, calls it “the first mass-market 3-D device.”
Nintendo’s handheld gaming systems have been wildly popular since the days of the Game Boy, but in recent years people have grown accustomed (and sometimes addicted) to playing games on their smartphones. Both AT&T Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. have announced they’ll be selling smartphones with 3-D screens soon.
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter said Nintendo will sell “as many as they can make” over the next 12 months. While the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan will likely affect supplies, he called an estimate of 16 million units “very fair.” — AP
Alaska Airlines recovering from computer outage
Alaska Airlines and its Horizon Air affiliate said Sunday they have resolved a computer outage that led to the cancellation of 150 flights a day earlier, disrupting travel plans for more than 12,000 passengers.
The company said that most of its flights are now operating on time, though about a dozen have been delayed due to crew scheduling issues. The company recommends passengers check their flight’s status online or by calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR.
Passengers are boarding the next available flights at no charge, and in some cases are flying with other airlines, the company said.– AP
